The Forgotten History of Hamilton’s Garden Place
Thursday 30 July 2026
The rising of Matariki in midwinter was traditionally used to predict the coming growing season. Bright stars signalled a productive year for crops, while hazy stars suggested a tougher one. In Kirikiriroa, the site now known as Garden Place sat within a wider landscape of gardens, wetlands, springs, and forest that sustained local hapuu of Tainui, particularly Ngaati Wairere, alongside Ngaati Haanui, Iranui, Waikai, Haumi, and Koura. Before 1939, this area was not a flat civic space but a prominent ridge known to local Maaori as Te Koopuu Mania o Kirikiriroa, meaning “The Smooth Belly of the Long Pebbly Shore.” It
This was a highly cultivated and carefully managed landscape. The fertile soils of the ridge supported crops such as kuumara, yams, and hue, while the lower, wetter areas were used for growing taro. Medicinal plants, including karaka and rauruhe, were also gathered from the area. The surrounding vegetation included rangiora, tawa, and kahikatea, with stands of kahikatea forming natural windbreaks around the cultivated gardens. At the highest point of the ridge stood a tuuaahu called Te Ahurewa, a ceremonial altar where rituals and karakia were carried out to protect the mauri and wellbeing of the land. Nearby were several natural springs, or puna, which added to the life-giving qualities of the site.
This landscape was also guided by the rhythms of the natural world. Maaori gardening followed the movements of the stars and the phases of marama (the moon), which indicated the best times for planting and harvesting. The rising of Matariki in the winter sky marked the Maori New Year and was an important time of celebration on the hill.
The area was rich in birdlife, with korimako, tuuii, and kereruu feeding on the nectar and berries of the native forest. These birds were also an important source of kai, and their feathers were used in cloaks and head adornments.
As we acknowledge Matariki, we also remember that places like Garden Place hold layered histories that connect present-day Kirikiriroa to the knowledge, practices, and world of those who came before.
This article was originally shared in our bimonthly newsletter, Ngaa Koorero Tuku Iho Archives and Reference. Subscribe to receive updates, news and stories straight to your inbox.